activism
Grassroots campaigns have proven instrumental in bringing about political, social or environmental change; you've got to start somewhere-might as well start here.
BLM & Pride
"Racism" is discrimination and antagonism directed at people for their ethnicity and the color of their skin. From the beginning of what we all learn in the history books, race has always been a factor in the way people treat each other. When the first tribes ran into each other, fought for the same food and land. Since then, there were movements, laws, laws were advised, white people hurt colored people, some white people fought for colored people, and people tried to bring attention of the real seriousness of the injustice of the actions of which were made. Still, in 2020, the US has a leader with an abominable vision and dastardly morals. People treat African Americans as some glitch in the creation of humans. THEY ARE HUMAN. BLACKS, BROWNS, and LIGHT BROWNS are all human. They do not deserve the cruelty of the racism from the privilege of everyone with white skin. People are being killed for having darker skin. They are scarred from surviving slavery, abuse, sex trafficking, poverty, the way people treat and even look at them. I myself am not of color; I am white, and for that I have a privilege most of my peers at the University, my neighbors in my apartment complex, my family members, and my friends do not have. Everyone is so easy to jump at the fact that my life matters. It is crazy how someone will tell me my life matters and my best friends does not solely because she is black. I cannot see it that way; I would give my life for my friend of color rather than someone kill them because they don't look like me. All lives do not matter until black lives matter. Acceptance is something people struggle with when it comes to acknowledging they have a problem or when something they don't understand has entered their their in some way. But as humans, we are capable of much more than we know. The way we accept love and care from our family is the way we should accept anything/anyone else. People are afraid. They judge and treat my friends as if they are dangerous. Furthermore, my colored friends who are gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, etc. These people are also being shamed and punished for being a person who feels and are different from what society set as our default, our "normal." The way the world has progressed for the people of color, isn't the leap they need from the road they have been traveling down. WE CAN DO BETTER. It is a shock of how many ways a person can "justify" their racism. During the 16th and 17th century they used religion as a justification for racism, in the 19th century, they used science/social science. BY 1915, Inter-racial marriage was illegal. They used to kill/punish black people for acting outside of their orders of their white slave-owners, for falling for a white person or trying to protect each other. Today, they are still being killed by the protection they are supposed to have by law. Hate is NOT okay. It is STILL a difficult time for our friends of color when it should be so much better for them. Take a stand. Speak up. Educate yourself. Decide if you are the one to sit on the side lines while people are being murdered for no other reason than the color of their skin, or if you are the one who will stand and fight against what is happening to them and try to change this world so they can get the treatment they deserve, the same treatment you have as a privileged person. And if you are a person of color, one day, this world will be as safe for you as it is for me, and I will help you fight the obstruction of this world into the day you can truly say you are treated the way you should be. You ARE making a difference. We WILL change the world.
By Annabeth Barber6 years ago in The Swamp
What is White Saviourism?
Due to the increased attention on the Black Lives Matter Movements after the outcry at the murder of George Floyd, white people have been pushed to question their treatment of black people. I am one of them. Many white people have had a positive response. They understand their privilege – that white people will not suffer because of their race as black people are targeted due to the colour of their skin. Many white people have joined in solidarity with black people on marches, signing campaigns and using their platform to speak out against racism.
By Rebecca Clark6 years ago in The Swamp
Artistic Representation Of State Propaganda And Oppression
The removal of colonial statues is not new —- it has been a function of activists across the decolonized world, predominantly on the African continent, from as early as the 1960s. Much of it has particularly found expression in newly Independent nations wanting a reversion to pre-colonial societal fabric devoid of these repugnant reminders of the colonial epoch. The sentiment anchoring this action was that statues honouring “heroes” of colonialism was a contradiction to the new spirit of nationhood. Generations later have seen the growth of radicalism that has led to demands for the toppling of more racist relics. Colonial names didn’t escape notice either: after Independence colonial states Northern and South Rhodesia named for colonizer Cecil Rhodes of #RhodesMustFall and #RhodesScholar reverted to Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively.
By Donna Mattis6 years ago in The Swamp
Politics and Actual, Honest To God Friendships
This story starts with a friend that I no longer have. Nothing happened to this individual. I just cut him off when I reached the end of my tether, and the story of how I did that, although it was something I should have done a long time ago and I readily acknowledge that, actually begins with the death of George Floyd.
By Remy Dhami6 years ago in The Swamp
In the fight for Racial Equity in the USA, we gotta VERB:
Merriam-Webster defines the word verbs as, "words that show an action... almost every sentence requires a verb." So let's get to Work, shall we? And if you're scared of the Work, that is ok. The great white machine has intentionally withheld the knowledge, habits, tools, and resources necessary to tear down and reconstruct a society wherein ALL its inhabitants receive the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness they are promised in this nation's sacred documents. The time for drinking the "dead white guy" Kool-Aid must be past us, my fellow Americans (especially for those of us who come from a life of grandiose privilege). I hope you see that, or at least feel it in your bones...
By Orion Bradshaw6 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Fellow White Women: Want to Smash the Patriarchy? Stand Against Racism. Top Story - June 2020.
When Emma Stone, at the 2018 Oscars, referred to the Best Director nominees as 'these four men and Greta Gerwig', she was met with a mixture of praise and heavy criticism- and it wasn't from misgoynists. Sure, the actress was right to call out the ridiculously low number of female nominees- but she was swiftly criticised for ignoring the fact that "these four men" included a Latino man (Guillermo Del Toro) and a black one (Jordan Peele). Men of colour, as Stone's critcs pointed out, don't exactly get everything handed to them. Why should they- along with women of colour- celebrate one wealthy white woman for cheering on another wealthy white women, ignoring their experiences, and calling it feminism? (Plus, no-one's forgotten Aloha.)
By Emma Curzon6 years ago in The Swamp
What Would I Do In Their Place?
Many years from now I will face certain crises if I'm ever elected into office. Our current President endures many a kind of public criticism or backlash for his behavior. Former President Barack Obama has called President Donald Trumps' response to the coronavirus crisis a chaotic disaster, which makes him even more sure that 45 must be defeated in November. Strong government leadership is not happening during this crisis, because the election that is coming up determines battle lines being drawn against selfishness, tribal attitudes, being divisive and causing others to see each other as enemies. This is what we are fighting, negativity at large, causing the world to believe narcissistic lies.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez6 years ago in The Swamp
Action or Dissatisfaction?
Action or Dissatisfaction? George Floyd, another involuntary martyr, a black body slain for the slaughter Oh, does it make you annoyed that I won't avoid, saying his name with my first breath but ohh no you must recognize his death.
By Leon Sanders III6 years ago in The Swamp
